Key Facts

• Amendment 126 pertains to financial assistance in England.
• Amendment 127 pertains to financial assistance in Scotland.
• Amendment 128 pertains to financial assistance in Wales.
• Amendment 129 pertains to financial assistance in Northern Ireland.
• Amendments 134-137 would allow financial assistance for infrastructure such as ports and market facilities.
• The amendments apply to different regions: England (Amendment 134), Scotland (Amendment 135), Wales (Amendment 136), Northern Ireland (Amendment 137).
• Financial support is intended to aid commercial fishing and aquaculture activities.
• The amendments enable the Secretary of State or another person to publish specified information about financial assistance given in accordance with the scheme.
• Information that may be specified includes details about the recipient, amount, and purpose of the financial assistance.
• The scheme cannot impose a duty to publish information if its publication would contravene data protection legislation.
• Funding to fish and aquaculture sectors was provided under the EMFF during EU membership.
• The Government are committed to creating new domestic long-term arrangements to support the UK’s fishing industry from 2021 through four new schemes for each nation.
• Devolved Administrations will lead on their own financial assistance schemes.
• Amendment 130 proposes adding scientific data collection as a purpose for clause 38.
• Amendments 131, 132, and 133 propose similar additions in Schedule 8 for Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish ministers respectively.
• Amendments 139-142 aim to give regional ministers powers to regulate fishing near historic or archaeological features in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• The amendments would allow the Secretary of State to make regulations to protect marine archaeology without harming the fishing industry.
• Clause 51 of the Bill defines the marine and aquatic environment as including 'features of archaeological or historic interest'.
• Amendments aim to ensure respect for devolved status in fisheries management.
• Government amendment 146 addresses the extent of powers related to Wales.
• Amendment 145 deals with technical clarifications regarding regulations under clauses 38 and 40.
• Amendment 52 updates a cross reference in Schedule 9.
• The amendment replaces the old regulation reference from 2010 to the current version from 2017.
• The question is that schedule 9, as amended, be the Ninth schedule to the Bill.
• The Bill gives the MMO extended powers to create byelaws for offshore marine protected areas.
• Pulse trawling is devastating for the environment and has been used in Haisborough and North Norfolk MPAs.
• It took three years from designation for the consultation process to begin on a SAC, leading to minimal protection implementation.
• Amendment makes changes to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1393/2014.
• It extends survivability exemption and de minimis exemptions until the end of 2021.
• Article 5 is substituted with an expiry date at the end of December 2021.
• Government committed to ending wasteful discarding practice.
• Amendments extend exemptions from January to reduce pressure on secondary legislation timetable.
• Regulation (EU) 2017/2403, SMEFF regulation, will be revoked.
• Amendment addresses minor changes to retained EU legislation for landing obligation in North Sea fisheries.
• Amendments aim to adjust UK-wide requirements around remote electronic monitoring systems for boats over 10 metres in length into England-only requirements.
• Amendment 143 would require cameras to monitor compliance with personal flotation device regulations.
• Six fishers died last year, highlighting the need for such safety measures.
• Clause 48 is under scrutiny with regard to its applicability to English fishing boats.
• The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has implemented legislation related to personal flotation devices in accordance with International Labour Organisation’s work on fishing conventions.
• Seafish collaborated with the MCA regarding personal flotation device practices.
• Remote electronic monitoring (REM) is seen as a practical and cost-effective tool.
• The Lords’ addition of a clause improves data collection in fisheries.
• Trials of REM have been ongoing since 2011, including voluntary schemes by the MMO.
• New clause 1 introduces proposed changes for seal conservation.
• New Schedule 1 details specific measures related to seal conservation.
• The new provisions are set to come into force on 1 March 2021.
• The amendments aim to prevent the intentional killing of wild seals during interactions with commercial fisheries.
• Without compliance, UK businesses could lose over £13 million in annual exports to the USA.
• Scottish Government amended their Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 separately for consistency.
• Amendment 83 seeks to insert 'Sustainable' into clause 54.
• Labour has concerns about the Bill's failure to prioritise sustainability objectives such as net zero plans for fishing.
• The Government refused amendments to ban supertrawlers from marine protected areas.
• New Clause 2 would require the Secretary of State to consult with persons representing recreational fishing practices.
• The clause aims to promote recreational fishing and assess its economic benefits.
• The first report under this clause must be published no more than 12 months after it comes into force.